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49ers Remove Brandon Aiyuk's Locker Stall
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's locker stall has been removed from the team's locker room, according to David Lombardi. His stall had remained there even after Aiyuk left the squad late last season, but it is no longer in place. Aiyuk remains under contract with San Francisco and is still on the Reserve/Left Squad list, so nothing has officially changed with his status. The disappearing locker is another sign of a relationship that has been headed toward a split for months. The 49ers voided Aiyuk's guaranteed money for 2026 last year, and general manager John Lynch said in January that it was safe to say the 28-year-old had played his final snap for the team. Aiyuk hasn't appeared in a game since suffering a serious right knee injury in October 2024 and missed all of last season. Until his status is resolved, there remains little reason to expect him back on the field for San Francisco.
Source: David Lombardi
Source: David Lombardi
Oneil Cruz Won't Rejoin the Pirates on Friday Night
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz (hand) is expected to continue his minor-league rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona on Friday night, according to Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Cruz will not be joining the Pirates for their series opener against the Boston Red Sox. It's unclear if the Pirates will consider activating Cruz from the 60-day injured list for the remainder of the weekend series against the BoSox. Through four rehab games so far at Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, the left-handed slugger has gone 2-for-13 at the plate with six strikeouts and three walks. He probably won't return to the big-league roster until he plays in back-to-back games in center field, so fantasy managers should probably not expect him back in Pittsburgh until at least early next week. The five-category contributor has been sidelined since the middle of June with a fractured hand, but he should remain stashed in all fantasy baseball leagues with the potential to be a difference-maker in the final month of the regular season. The 27-year-old Dominican was hitting .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS, 14 homers, 44 RBI, 21 stolen bases, and 45 runs in 250 at-bats before his hand injury in 2026.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Colin Beazley
Jordan Lyle Arrested on Reckless Driving, Aggravated Fleeing Charges
Miami Hurricanes running back Jordan Lyle was arrested Thursday in Broward County on charges of reckless driving and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer at high speed, according to Adam Lichtenstein. Lyle was booked into Broward Main Jail and released on $55,000 bond later that day. The aggravated-fleeing charge is a second-degree felony. Miami acknowledged the incident Friday morning, saying it would have no further comment while due legal process runs its course. Lyle had been having a strong camp before the arrest. Mario Cristobal said Tuesday that the junior was healthy again and back to playing at full speed after injuries limited him to 108 rushing yards and one touchdown in six games last season. Lyle ran for 400 yards and four scores as a freshman in 2024 and was pushing for more work in Miami's deep backfield this fall. The school's statement did not announce any discipline or change to his availability.
Source: Adam Lichtenstein
Source: Adam Lichtenstein
Kaelon Black Still Dealing With Thigh Injury, Sits Out Preseason Opener
San Francisco 49ers rookie third-round running back Kaelon Black (thigh) missed out on a big opportunity to cement himself as a depth option in the team's backfield behind Christian McCaffrey going into his first year in the NFL and was held out of the preseason opener on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. The good news is that Black's primary competition, Jordan James (ribs), was also held out. The 24-year-old Black has a big believer in head coach Kyle Shanahan, but that doesn't necessarily mean that he'll beat out James in 2026 to become the primary change-of-pace option behind the oft-injured CMC. The 5-foot-9, 211-pounder didn't have amazing production in college at James Madison and Indiana, and he's old for a rookie. Going into the 2026 season, Black will be a handcuff option to McCaffrey, at best, in deeper leagues if he's able to beat out James.
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Source: ESPN.com - Nick Wagoner
Brock Bowers Plays Just One Snap in Preseason Opener
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers wasn't on the field for long in Thursday night's preseason-opening loss to the visiting Arizona Cardinals, as he played just one offensive snap before coming out of the game. Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Ashton Jeanty stayed in a bit longer with the starting offense, but the Raiders weren't going to take any chances with their star TE. The 23-year-old former 13th overall pick from the University of Georgia battled a knee injury last year and finished with only 64 receptions for 680 yards in 12 games, but he still managed to post a career-high seven touchdown receptions on 86 targets. It was a step back after his 112-1,194-5 line in 17 games as a rookie in 2024. With an improved QB situation with Cousins/rookie Fernando Mendoza in new head coach Klint Kubiak's offense, the sky is the limit for Bowers, which is why he's the consensus top fantasy football TE in most formats going into Year 3. Despite missing five games due to injury last year, Bowers still managed to finish as the TE10 in half-PPR scoring.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Joshua Baez Continues to Slug His Way to Major-League Call-Up
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has done nothing but hit for power all year long at Triple-A Memphis and he is hoping it leads soon to an MLB debut. At Memphis, Baez has 34 homers and 90 RBI with 79 runs scored and 21 steals while hitting .256. Not many players in the minors can boast 30-plus homers and 20-plus stolen bases. The power-speed combination is elite and the Cardinals seem to have an opening in the outfield outside regulars Jordan Walker and Nathan Church. Baez is the No. 3 prospect for the Cardinals and has 60-grade power with a 50-grade hit tool and 50-grade speed. At 23 years old, Baez is primed to make his MLB debut this season and it would be wise for fantasy managers to stock up on Baez shares in redraft leagues as he could be a game-changer late in the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Javonte Williams Excited About Cowboys' Offense in 2026
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams had a career year in his first season in Dallas in 2025, rushing for a career-high 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the team in February. Going into his second season with the Cowboys, Williams is excited about the potential of the offense, according to Tommy Yarrish of the team's official website. "Just a whole other level of maturity," Williams said of Dallas' offense this year. "I feel like we hit the ground running. We didn't really start from the ground up, we just kind of built on what we could've done better last year. I feel like we're executing and communicating well." Personally, Williams said his conditioning is in a better place as he heads into his second year in Dallas and his sixth year in the NFL. In one of the league's highest-scoring offenses, Williams should carry a high fantasy floor as a low-end RB1/high-end RB2 in 2026.
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Tommy Yarrish
Source: DallasCowboys.com - Tommy Yarrish
Josue Briceno Hoping There is One More Promotion For Him Coming Soon
Detroit Tigers catcher/first base prospect Josue Briceno was promoted to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on August 11 and is hoping he can play his way to a promotion to the Tigers big league club. Briceno is coming back from a right wrist injury that sidelined him for much of this season and has played for four different levels of the minors this season, combining to hit nine homers and 25 RBI in 104 at bats with 18 runs scored while hitting .279. In just three games with the Mud Hens, Briceno already has three RBI and is hitting 3-for-11. The left-handed hitter is the No. 5 prospect for the Tigers and is blessed with 60-grade power. At the big-league level, the Tigers are well stocked at the catcher position with Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia with Spencer Torkelson manning first base. It's looking like 2027 might be a more likely timeline for Briceno to join the Tigers.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jonah Tong Hopes Improved Results Lead to Spot in Mets' Rotation
New York Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong tossed four innings of one-run ball in his last start for Triple-A Syracuse but got a no-decision after walking four batters and giving up four hits and striking out six. Other than a start before his most recent one when he gave up five earned runs, Tong has actually been quite good for Syracuse and could be looked at to make another appearance for the big-league club before the season ends. For the Mets this season, Tong pitched three relief appearances and recorded a 1-1 record after allowing four earned runs in 10 innings pitched. Tong is the No. 5 prospect for the Mets and boasts a 60-grade fastball-changeup combination. The right-hander has pitched in a starting role at Syracuse this year and is trying to get back into the Mets' rotation before the end of the season.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
MarShawn Lloyd Takes Every Snap with First Team, Earns Five Touches
Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd took every snap with the first-team offense during Green Bay's 28-9 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. Lloyd, the third-year pro out of USC, took every snap with the first-team offense on the Packers' first drive and earned four carries for 13 yards and caught his only target for minus-four yards. Josh Jacobs (groin) was sidelined, clearing the way for Lloyd to gobble up all the first-team work. It's been an odyssey for Lloyd in his pro career, who has been more injured than not heading into his third season as a pro with just seven career touches of the football in that time. That said, he's getting the first crack to be the main spell behind Jacobs. Consider Lloyd a worthwhile bench stash in deeper leagues, but a name to certainly keep in the back of your mind after drafts conclude.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Marvin Harrison Jr. a "Winner" During Preseason Debut
Sports Illustrated's Donnie Druin named Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. a "winner" after the team's preseason victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night. Harrison's drops and mistakes have been amplified in training camp this summer, and although he wasn't on the field for long on Thursday, he made two impact plays and found the end zone. His first impact play was drawing a pass-interference penalty, which noticeably came from the slot. Harrison's second big play was his touchdown reception in double coverage. Druin writes that the former first-rounder "silenced some of the noise" of his struggles in camp, and he reminded everyone that he's still a very talented receiver for the Cardinals. The 24-year-old appeared in only 12 games in 2025 in his second year in the league and caught 41 passes for 608 yards and four touchdowns. Harrison has failed to live up to the sky-high expectations he had coming into the league as the fourth overall pick from Ohio State, but he's fully healthy going into the 2026 season and should still see plenty of targets from veteran QB Jacoby Brissett. Harrison is worth targeting as a WR3/flex value pick in fantasy drafts this fall.
Source: Sports Illustrated - Donnie Druin
Source: Sports Illustrated - Donnie Druin
Bo Davidson Has Power-Speed Potential For Future Fantasy Teams
San Francisco Giants outfield prospect Bo Davidson has had a nice age-24 season between Double-A Richmond and Triple-A Sacramento. Between the two minor league levels, Davidson has 21 homers and 67 RBI while hitting .267 with 61 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. Davidson is the No. 8 prospect for San Francisco and has 55-grade power and speed with a 50-grade hit tool. He has shown five-category ability in the minors and looks to be a future balanced contributor for fantasy purposes. However, will the Giants promote Davidson at the end of this year or have him start next season with the big-league club? With only 24 games played at the Triple-A level, the Giants could take a cautious approach and wait until next year to unveil Davidson and his power-speed combination.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Pat Freiermuth Catches One Pass in Preseason Opener
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had a quiet preseason opener in Thursday night's win over the Green Bay Packers, catching his only target for a two-yard gain in the 28-9 victory. Freiermuth didn't do much on offense on a night in which the Steelers rested veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers and top wide receivers DK Metcalf (undisclosed) and Michael Pittman Jr. (leg). His lone reception came near the goal line on a fourth-down pass from backup QB Mason Rudolph. The 27-year-old was a sleeper target at the TE position last year, but he never panned out, catching 41 of his 54 targets for 486 yards and four touchdowns in 17 regular-season games in his fifth year in the NFL. Jonnu Smith and pass-catching running back Kenny Gainwell left town in the offseason, but the addition of Pittman to new head coach Mike McCarthy's offense will most likely continue to keep Freiermuth's fantasy ceiling pretty low. With Rodgers running Pittsburgh's offense for one more year, fantasy managers should treat Freiermuth as a low-end TE2 option who is dependent on finding the end zone.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Charlie Condon Still Waiting for MLB Call-Up
Colorado Rockies first base/outfield prospect Charlie Condon will have to wait longer for his MLB debut after the Rockies chose to promote his Triple-A Albuquerque teammate Zac Veen. But Condon is no less worthy of a promotion after a dominant season at Albuquerque with 22 homers and 73 RBI with 85 runs scored while hitting .276. Condon is ranked No. 3 overall in the Rockies system and is graded out with a 55-grade hit tool and 55-grade power. The 23-year-old is a former No. 3 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Georgia and looks very much ready to take on major-league pitching. Condon could soon join Veen on the Rockies' big-league roster. He is still a must-stash and could be a difference-maker down the stretch for fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Kade Anderson Has Clearer Path to Majors Amid Big-League Struggles
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Kade Anderson has a lights-out resume this season at Double-A Arkansas, and it turns out that with Bryce Miller struggling in Seattle, he now has a clearer path to a spot in the big-league rotation. Anderson is 10-1 at Arkansas with a 1.13 ERA and 0.65 WHIP with 128 strikeouts in 87 2/3 innings pitched. The video-game-like numbers are impressive, and at age 22, Anderson has done everything in his power to prove he is major-league ready. The only question mark is the fact that he has yet to pitch at Triple-A and prove himself at the last stop before the MLB. However, the Mariners' top prospect looks more and more ready each time he pitches, and in his last outing he gave up three hits and no walks in 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts on the way to a win. Now is the time to stash Anderson in redraft leagues, as his time looks like it's coming soon.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
